~ 43 ~ Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2019; 7(3): 43-48 ISSN (E): 2320-3862 ISSN (P): 2394-0530 NAAS Rating: 3.53 JMPS 2019; 7(3): 43-48 © 2019 JMPS Received: 24-03-2019 Accepted: 28-04-2019 Rafatou AA Adjileye Laboratoire de Biochimie et Substances Naturelles Bioactives, Unité de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 04 BP 0320 Cotonou, Bénin Abdou Madjid O Amoussa Laboratoire de Biochimie et Substances Naturelles Bioactives, Unité de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 04 BP 0320 Cotonou, Bénin Latifou Lagnika Laboratoire de Biochimie et Substances Naturelles Bioactives, Unité de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 04 BP 0320 Cotonou, Bénin Correspondence Latifou Lagnika Laboratoire de Biochimie et Substances Naturelles Bioactives, Unité de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 04 BP 0320 Cotonou, Bénin Trema orientalis L. and Dialium guineense Wild. used to manage hypertension in Bénin: phytochemical study and antioxidant activity Rafatou AA Adjileye, Abdou Madjid O Amoussa and Latifou Lagnika Abstract Trema orientalis L. (Celtidaceae) and Dialium guineense Wild. (Caesalpiniaceae) are used traditionally as remedy against headache, pains, diarrhoea, fever and hypertension. Despite their approved efficacy there are little scientific data available on their biological potential. The present study investigated the phytochemical study and antioxidant activity of Trema orientalis and Dialium guineense. The phytochemical screening was carried out using standard procedures. The phenolic and flavonoids contents were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride reagent. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl, Ferric reducing capacity, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide methods. Tremas orientalis was the most active in the ferric reducing capacity with 6007.8 ± 175.57μmol AAE g - 1. The superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities ranged from 88.52±0.68 % to 91.33±4.01%. The DPPH scavenging activity was dose dependent. Dialium guineense was the most active with an inhibitory percentage of 96.06 ± 0.34 % comparable to ascorbic acid (99.46 ± 0.37 %). Keywords: Dialium guineense, Trema orientalis, antioxidant Introduction According to the World Health Organization, more than 80% of the african populations used traditional medicine for primary health care [1] . All over the world, human health is affected by problems such as the ageing and the spread of unhealthy lifestyles. In developed and low income countries, population face the same health problems, of which the most important is non transmissible diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and chronic lung diseases [2] . It is well known that a diet rich in vegetables contributes to the decrease of the inflammation and oxidative stress risk, related with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, arteriosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, and neurological diseases [3-5] . These plant properties are due to phytoconstituents contents among which we find the phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds are well known for their antioxidant properties which is attributed to the scavenging ability of free radicals, donors of hydrogen atoms, electrons or metal chelate cations [6, 7] . Molecular structures, particularly the number and positions of the hydroxyl groups, and the nature of substitutions on the aromatic rings, confers to phenolic compounds the capacity of inactivating free radicals, which is referred to as structure‐activity relationship [8] . Based on the role of phenolic compounds in improving the management of several pathologies, the study of phytoconstituents and their ability to scavenge the reactive oxygen species becomes important. In Bénin, several medicinal plants are used in the treatment of various pathology. Among these plants, Dialium guineense Wild. and Trema orientalis L. are widely used in folk medicine to manage various ailments [9, 10] . Roots, leaves and bark of Dialium guineense are used to cure digestive system disorders, pulmonary troubles, malaria, fever, jaundice, diabetes, coughs, bronchitis, diarrhea, palpitations, dysmenorrhea, ulcer, anemia, hemorrhoids, febrifuge, anti-dysentery, anti-convulsion, anti- diabetic [11, 9] . The twigs are used as native toothbrushes to protect against tooth decay and dental plaque [12] . Trema orientalis is also used in traditional medicine to treat and manage many diseases such as hypertension, malaria, diarrhea, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, jaundice, bronchitis, toothache, female sterility. It’s also used as inhalant, vapour bath for coughs, anti-helminthic, antidote to general poisoning, febrifuge, anti-dysentery, anti- convulsion, anti-diabetic, analgesic, anti-sickling [10, 13-16] . Therefore, this work was performed